Method of feeding elastic thread in knitted fabrics



June 5, 1945. EGETAZ v 2,377,490

METHOD OF FEEDING ELASTIC THREAD IN KNITTED FABRICS Filed April 7, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet l c 72 95 660 I '1 a4 27 ATTO R N EY June 5, J. L. GETAZ' METHOD OF FEEDING ELASTIC THREAD IN KNITTED FABRICS Filed April '1, 1944 s' sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY J. L. GETAZ 2,377,490v

METHOD OF FEEDING EL ASTIC THREAD IN KNITTED FABRICS June 5, 1945.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 7. 1944 iIIIZIIIIp zxx xxt t. a X FLEWZE: IIITTLIITL n T 33513: F 5C 1 x IT LQTDQEI? 5 INVENEOZgi ATTORN EY June 5, 1945. J. L. GETAZ 2,377,490

METHOD OF FEEDING ELASTI C THREAD IN KNITTED FABRICS Filed April 7, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 6/ 92/ aao 5 am 5 J9 50 INVE/gl 771 77' Y I ATTORNEY June 5, 1945. J. GETAZ 2,377,490

METHOD OF FEEDING ELASTIC THREAD IN KNITTED FABRICS Filed April 7 1944 5 Sheets- Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented June 5, 1945 METHOD OF FEEDING ELASTIC THREAD IN KNITTED FABRICS James L. Getaz, New York, N. Y.

Application April 7, 1944, Serial No. 529,913

8 Claims.

This invention is related to elastic knitted fabrics, particularly to elastic plain knit tops for hosiery. This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application No. 524,018, which was filed on February 20, 1944.

This invention is an improvement on the method of incorporating elastic thread in the plain knit tops of hosiery as shown in my U. S. atents, 2,230,402, 2,230,403, 2,168,869 and 2,161,250. In using elastic thread in these knitted tops, it is desirable, in order to save the cost of elastic thread, to not use the elastic thread throughout each course of the knitted fabric, but to use the elastic thread in certain courses and omit this elastic thread from intervening courses, and by constructing the tops in this way important economy is obtained in the construction of these knitted fabrics.

In incorporating this elastic thread in spaced courses, it has been customary to extend the elastic thread longitudinally from one spaced course to another, across the intervening courses, as shown in Fig. of my Patent No. 2,230,402. When the fabric is knitted, it is as shown in this Fig. 10, but when the elastic thread is allowed to assume its normal position in the fabric, it forms a straight line and distorts the shape and relative positions of the courses and wales of the knitted fabric at those points at which the elastic thread passes from one spaced course to another. In order to make these distorted portions of the fabric less conspicuous, it is customary to so time the movement of the parts of the knittin machines which control the placing of the elastic thread, that these distorted portions of the fabric are placed in the center of the back of the hose. It is the purpose of this invention to provide a method of incorporating the elastic thread in plain knit tops, so as to obtain the same economy which is now obtained by putting the elastic thread only in spaced courses and to avoid the distortion of the knitted fabric, which is caused by extending the elastic thread across intervening courses. This is accomplished by incorporating the elastic thread in only a portion of each successive course of the knitted fabric, and extending the elastic thread'from one course to the next, without any courses intervening. This method of incorporating the elastic thread in plain fabric produces a placing of the elastic thread in plain fabric, which is similar to that shown for ribbed fabric in my Patent No. 2,228,208.

In the accompanying drawings: ,Figure 1 is a diagrammatic development of the knitting wave and knitting cams of a circular knitting machine embodying my invention, showing how the two yarns, the elastic yarn and the body thread, are fed to the needles.

Figure 2 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 1 showing the needle circle, and illustrating the manner in which the body thread and the elastic thread are fed to the needles, the small arrow indicating the knocking-over point.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the parts indicated in Figure 2, showing the auxiliary thread feeding-finger for the elastic thread in operative and inoperative positions, and showing a side elevation of the knitting machine. 7

Figure 4 is a vertical section on of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail view of portions of the latch ring and auxiliary thread feeding finger, the latter being shown in operative position.

Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 5 showing the inoperative position of the auxiliary feedingfinger.

Figure '7 is a section on 1 showing the elevation of the needles with reference to the elastic thread.

Figure 8 is a view of the top of a stocking made according to this invention, and with an elastic selvage, as shown in my patents, 2,054,217 and 2,334,350.

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the fabric shown in Figure 8, in reversed position, the stitches in the bottom of this figure being knitted first.

Figure 10 is a section along line |0-l0 of Figure 3, showing mechanism for selecting needles.

Figure 11 is a section along line H--Il of Figure 10, showing part of the mechanism for selecting the needles.

Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 show the different jacks used in selecting needles in difierent portions of the circumference of the knitting machine.

Figure 16 is a development of these selective jacks as they appear around the cylinder.

Figure 17 is a development of part of the pattern drum which is used in selecting the needles.

My invention finds its greatest use in carrying out the invention disclosed in my Patent 2,230,402, above referred to, wherein the top portion of a stocking 1s knit by plain knitting and an elastic thread of rubber, or the well known Lastex, is interlaced with the needles and in corporated in the fabric in the first course to the line 4-4 line l-'l of Figure form an elastic selvage, and thereafter in spaced courses throughout a portion of a sock or stocking, to produce a form-fitting and self-supporting tubular portion, usually the top of a sock or hose, which has for many years been formed of rib knitting, although it is to be understood that my invention is equally applicable to any other kind of hosiery and may be employed also for the purpose of introducing an inelastic thread, if that should be desirable. I, therefore, make no claim herein for the product disclosed in my said Patent 2,230,402.

Any circular knitting machine having cylinder needles with selectivity as between successive needles can be adapted to make this sock or stocking. Thus, the well known Scott 8: Williams type of revolving needle cylinder machine,.such.

as shown for example in the United States Letters Patent to Robert W. Scott, No. 1,152,850, dated September 7, 1915, can be adapted to carry my present invention into effect, by the addition of the mechanism hereinafter described,

for feeding the elastic thread and by properly adjusting the various cams.

In the drawings, the needle cylinder is indicated at C, and is provided with a circular series of needles, N, the upper ends of which, extending from the point of pivoting of the latch to the hook portion, are inclined forwardly with respect to the shank of the needles. Such needles can be obtained, and any of the so-called forward hook needles can be advantageously employed for this purpose. Each needle is provided with a butt n, adapted to engage th knitting cams, indicated at 360, 351 and 36L respectively, in the usual manner to effect the drawing of stitches by the hooks of the needles. Selected needles, in this case every alternate needle, are provided with a vertically disposed needle jack, indicated at 38l, and 380. These jacks are provided with butts n, adapted to engage a selecting cam 366, located in advance of the throat, for the purpose of raising the alternate needles, which are designated by the numbers 2| and 23, above the intervening needles,indicated by the numeral 22, at a point before the needles reach the throat. The throat is indicated at 56||in Fig. 2, and is provided with one or more thread feeding-fingers f, in the usual manner.

L represents a latch ring, shown in section in Fig. 4, which is provided with a delivery eye I, located in advance of the throat, through which the thread to be interlaced with the needles, and which in this instance is the elastic thread of rubber or Lastex, indicated at 20, may be delivered through the delivery eye of an auxiliary feeding-finger, hereinafter described, so as to pass in a line, approximately tangential to the circle of needles, and without sharp turns, to avoid placing any unnecessary friction on the thread.

.As shown herein the delivery eye I in the latch ring L, extends through the latch ring angularly to a radius of the ring, and substantially tangen tial to the circle of the needle series. 30 represents the auxiliary thread feeding-finger, which is preferably pivotally mounted on some stationary part of the machine. It is here shown secured by a horizontal pivot 29, to one side of the throat 560, but it may be secured at any desired part. The thread feeding-finger 30 is provided at its outer end with a downwardly extending plate portion 3|, which in its operative posi tion lies against the inner face of the latch ring L, as shown in Fig. 4. and is provided with a delivery eye, 32 at its lower end, adaptedto reg|ster with the delivery eye I in the latch ring, and form a continuation thereof, so that the auxiliary thread 20 can pass freely through the registering delivery eyes I and 32, with an avoidance of sharp turns, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The auxiliary thread, in this case the elastic thread 20, will be delivered from the supply spool in such a manner as to pass into the delivery eye of the latch ring'in as nearly a straight line longitudinally thereof as practicable, and if found necessary or desirable, the latch ring, or some adjacent portion of the machine, may be provided with a grooved roller, indicated at 33, for this purpose, the thread, 20, passing to the roller as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, or otherwise, as indicated in one or other of the dotted lines, 20a and 20b, according to the direction in which it comes from the spool. It will be understood that before passing through the registering eyes I and 32, the elastic thread passes through a suitable tensioning device, indicateddiagrammatically at T in Fig. 2, of any desired character. The auxiliary thread feeding-finger 30 will be providedwith suitable means for automatically throwing it into and out of operation. In this instance it is shown provided with an arm 34, extending rearwardly of its point of pivoting and connected with a rod or link 35, operated by suitable cam (not shown) for moving it from the operative position, shown in full lines in Figs. 3 and 5, to the inoperative position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and in full lines in Fig. 6. As indicated in the latter figure, when the feed-finger is moved to its inoperative position, it will lift the thread 23 out of a position in which it can be interlaced with the needles, in the manner previously described, and hold it until the auxiliary thread guide 30 is restored to its operative position. The knitting machine will also preferably be provided with a clamp and cutter of any desired form and operating in any suitable manner for holding the elastic thread when the auxiliary thread guide 33 is moved to inoperative position, and for severing it after the elastic thread has been fed to all of the courses desired in the stocking which is being knit. These parts are well known and are not herein shown. The body thread, which is fed to the hooks of all the needles, is indicated at ll in Figs. 1 and 2', and is fed to the needles by one of the ordinary feeding-fingers 1 located at the throat.

Assuming that the auxiliary thread guide 30 is in its operative position, and the elasttic thread is supplied under'desired tension to the registering delivery eyes-l and 32, and that the machine is in operation, the butts n of the needle jacks 3B| and 380, when selected, as hereinafter described will engage the cam 366 and elevate alternate needles, as indicated at 2| and 23 in Fig. 1 for example, sufiiciently high to receive the elastic thread 20. The intervening needles 22 will not be elevated and will pass below the registering delivery eyes I and 32, and will not receive the elastic thread. As soon as the elastic thread 20 has been fed on the forward side of the needles 2| below their latches, and to needles 23 above their latches, the butts of the intervening needles will engage the cam mechanism of th machine and the intervening needles will be raised to substantially the level of the needles 23. Asthe needles 22 rise with respect to the needles 2| and 23, the forwardly bent hook portions of the needles 22 will pass in front of the elastic thread 20, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. The latch ring L is of sufiicient depth so that it extends. be-

low the latches of the needles 2|, and any frictional engagement between th rising needles 22 and the elastic thread 26 will not have the effect of closing the latches of the adjacent needles 2|, which will be held from upward movement by engagement with th inner face of the latchring. As the needles pass the throat, the thread guide I thereof will feed the main knitting thread, or body thread 46 to the hooks of all the needles, which will thereafter be drawn down by the knitting cams in the usual manner to form a course of plain knit stitches, the loops of th inelastic body thread 46 being drawn on opposite sides of the elastic thread in incorporating it in the fabric, in tllie manner fully described in my Patent 2,054,- 2 7.

When the top portion of the hosiery, as shown in Fig. 8, is completed, or whatever portion of the knitted fabric which contains the elastic thread is completed, the auxiliary feeding finger 36 is drawn into inoperative position.

A stocking may be set up on bare needles and the rubber thread 36 interlaced with the needles, in the manner described, and incorporated'within the loops of the first course of stitches, which will be drawn, as before stated, on opposite sides of the rubber thread,- thus forming a complete single thickness, non-ravel edge or selvage, in the manner disclosed in my patents, 2,230,402, 2,054,217 and 2,334,350. After making this selvage or non-ravel edge, the knitting of plain knit courses will continue and the elastic thread 26 can be incorporated in courses at desired intervals,

In the accompanying drawings are shown preferred means for controlling the intervals at which the elastic thread is incorporatedin the fabric, and this is accomplished by successively selecting needles in portions of the circumference of the cylinder C. The selection of these needles follows in sequence around the cylinder until needles in all portions of the circumference are selected. As shown in Fig. 16, if the'needles in portion I66 are first selected after the selvage is knitted, the elastic 2| and 23 in this portion of the circumference. These needles are selected by the jacks 386 and 38I respectively, by selective mechanism described below. After the elastic thread is'fed to the selected needles in portions I66, it is floated around the circumference of the cylinder C, while a.

course of the body thread 46 is being knitted. Then as the portions of the cylinder |6| approaches the eyelet 32, from which the elastic thread is being fed, selected needles 2| and 23 in portion |6| are raised by jacks38| and 366 and the elastic thread is fed to these selected needles. After the elastic thread is fed to all of the selected needles in portion |6|, it is floated around the circumference of cylinder C, while a course of the body thread 46 is being knitted. Then as portion I62 approaches the eyelet 32, from which the elastic thread 'isfed, selected needles 2| and 23 in portion I62 are raised by jacks 38| and 386, and the elastic thread is fed to selected needles 2| and 23 in this portion of the cylinder. As these three portions constitute the entire circumference of the cylinder, the elastic thread is again floated around the cylinder and is fed to the selected needles in portion I66.

While in the accompanying drawings the cylinder is divided into three portions, it is apparent, that it may be divided into any number of portions, by proper designing of the selective mechanism and that the elastic thread may be thread is fed to the needles incorporated in the fabric in one of these portions of the circumference for each course that is knittedby the body thread 46.

To select the needles so that those'in each group will be raised consecutively to the proper height, to receive the elastic thread, use is made of the jacks 38I and 386-. These jacks are provided with butts n',aas mentioned above, which are raised by cam 366. When the jacks are so raised that these butts n engage cam 366, the needles above them are, raised to the height of needles 2| and 23 and receive the elastic thread. If these jacks 38I and 386 are not raised so that the butts n engage cam 366, then the butts n pass under cam 366, and the needles which are in contact with these jacks pass below the elastic thread at the level of needles 22, as shown in Fig. 1.

In order to raise these jacks so that the butts n will engage cam 366,,the jacks are provided with projections 56, 5|, 52 and 53,, as shown in Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15. Those jacks 38I and 386 in portion I62 are divided, part having projection 56 and the remainder projection 5|. Those in portion I66 have projection 52, and those in portion |6|, projection 53. The levers I28, I29, I36 and I3| are mounted on stud |2I on the bed of the machine at such levels that one of each of these levers will raise all of these jacks having a certain projection and raise it high enough so that the butt n will be raised further by cam 366. If lever inder, it will raise all the jacks having projection 53 in portion |6| in like manner, so lever I36 will raise the jacks in portion I66 having projection 52. Lever I29 will raise those jacksin portion I62 which have projection 5|, and lever I28 will raise those having projection 56. These levers I28, I29 I36 and I3I are connected by rods I26 to levers I22, I23, I24 and I25 respectively, which are held by springs I32 and are mounted on pivot I2| and are operated by cams 66, 6|, 62 and 63 on the pattern drum I26. This drum I26 is rotated by an amount equal to the spacing of these'cams with each rotation of the cylinder with a ratchet and pawl. The mechanism for moving the pattern drum is well known and is not shown herein.

During one revolution of the cylinder C, levers I22, I23 and I25 are held on cams 66, 6| and 63 of the pattern drum, which are shown in Fig. 17 and lever I24 is pulled by spring I32, so that lever I36 is pressed against the cylinder C and the jacks in portion I66 with projections 52 are raised to engage cam 366, which causes the needles in portion I66 to receive the elastic thread 26. On the next revolution of cylinder C, the pattern drum I26 hasmoved one notch, the levers I22, I23 and I24 are on cams 66, 6| and 62 and lever I25 is pulled Icy-spring I32 so that lever I3I is pressed against the cylinder C and the needles in-portion |6| are raised to receive the elastic thread.

Cam 66, as shown in Fig. 17, is made longer than the other cams, so that on the next move of the pattern drum lever I22 will drop off cam 66' later and lever I28 will be pressed against the cylinder C in portion I62 just, after the jacks having projection 56 have passed lever I26. On the next rotation of the cylinder, levers I24 and I25 are on cams I62 and 63 and levers I22 and I23 are pulled by springs I32, so that levers I28 and I29 are pressedagainst the cylinder and the jacks. in portion I62 with projections 56 and 5| are raised-to engage cam-"366, which causes the I3I is pressed into the cylneedles in portion I02 to receive. the elastic thread.

Where I have statedfiherein that the elastic thread is fed to alternate needles below the latches thereof, it is .to be understood that this includes the 'feeding of the elastic thread upon the latches thereof :and'then raising these needles to cause the elastic thread to pass below the latches, before the intervening needles are raised in front of the elastic thread.

In incorporating elastic thread in plain knit fabric, there are two well known methods. In one of these methods,- the elastic thread is fed below the latches of selected needles, as shown for needles 2|, and but is caught bythe sinker wales on each side of the selected needles as the elastic thread is shed over the hooks of these needles. If these elected needles are alternate needles, and there is sumcieni; tension in the elastic thread, a smooth fabric is produced, as shown in my Patent 2,230,402. This fabric imitates a 1 and 1 ribbed fabric, as alternate wales form the face of the fabric and the intervening wales form the inner face of the fabric.

If it is desired to incorporate the elastic thread unknit in the fabric, the longer jacks 138! may be used under all of the selected needles, so that these needles ar raised to the height of needles 2| as shown in Figure 7, and the elastic thread is fed below the latches.

In the other method for. incorporating elastic thread in plain fabric, the-elastic thread is fed above the latches of selected needles, as shown i not knitted in the fabric for needles 23, and behind intervening needles,

and is knitted into the fabric with the body thread in those wales which are knitted by the selected needles. When the elastic thread is knitted into this fabric in this manner, every fourth needle is generally selected for receiving the elastic thread, and the contraction of the elastic thread forms-vertical ridges in the finished fabric, in which the wales knitted by the selected needles lie on the inner face of the fabric, and the three intervening wales form the ridges on the face of the fabric.

If it is desired to knit the elastic thread in the fabric, the shorter jacks 380 may be used under all of the selected needles, raising them to the height of needles 23 so that'the elastic thread will be fed above the latches.

This invention, which provides a method oi incorporatingthe elastic thread in plain fabrics, is equally applicable to each of the fabrics mentioned above. In this invention, the elastic thread is in only a portion of each course, whether the elastic thread is laid .in below the latches of selected needles, or if it .is knitted by these needles. Or this invention may be used when both of these methods are combined in the same fabric, as shown in the accompanying drawings.

In some of thewales the elastic thread is knitted in the fabric andin other wales the clastic thread is unknit, being held in the fabric by the sinker wales.

In the fabric, as shown in Figure 9, the wales in heavy lines form the face of th fabric,

allowed to contract under suillcient tension, as shown in my Patent; No. 2,230,402, while the wales shown in lighter lines form the inner face of the fabric. The wales ii are knitted by the needles 2|, which are raised to a higher. levelby cam 366, as shown in Figure 1. The elasticthread is fed in front of these needles .below the latches, as shown in Figasmaoo ure '7. The wales ll are knitted by the intervening needles 22. Between wales Ida and llb, and between wales llc'and Ild, the elastic thread 20 is withdrawn from the fabric for one revolution of the knitting cylinder and floats around the needle circle as the cylinder revolves. This elastic thread 20 is withdrawn from the fabric by the-selective action of the knitting needles. The selected needles which are in only one portion of the circumference engage the elastic thread during one course of knitting.

when the elastic thread 20 is laid below the latches of the needles 2|, as shown in Figures 1 and 7,. the plain smooth fabric of my Patent No. 2,280,402 :may be produced, but the elastic thread has a tendency to slip between the sinker wales i1 andthe loops of the body thread 40. This is especially true after the fabric becomes worn and breaks occur in the elastic thread. This slippage of the elastic thread causes the top to lose its shape and elastic properties. This defect may be reduced by knitting loops of the elastic thread at selected points around the circumference of the knitted fabric.

As shown in Flgure 9, in the wales i6, loops aredrawn of the elastic thread 20 by needle 28, which is raised to a lower level by cam 366, as the Jack 380, which is under this needle 23, is shorter than the jacks 38I, which are under nee dles 2|. This needle 23 receives the elastic thread 20 above the latch, as shown in Figure 7. While only one of these wales, which are knitted by needles 23, is shown, there may be several of them on the circumference of the needle circle, as shown by the jacks 380 in'Fig. 16, and by knitting certainwales as wale II, the slippage of broken elastic threads may be reduced.

In Figure 8, there is shown in dotted lines the elastic thread .20 as it is incorporated according to this invention in the top of a knitted stocking. The elastic thread 20 is in part of each course, and is knitted into the fabric at wale it. As the elastic threadpasses from one course to he next succeeding course without passing across any intervening courses, the fabric is not distorted by the elastic thread as is the case in my Patent 2, 230,402.

I claim:

1. A method of incorporating an elastic thread in portions of successive courses of a circular knit fabric as said fabric is being knitted on a circular knitting machine, which comprises, selecting certain needles in a portion of the circumference of said machine, positioning said selected needles to receive said elastic thread during the knitting of one course of said fabric, operating said "selected needles to incorporate said elastic thread .in a portion of said course, selecting certain other needles in an adjacent portion of said circumference, positioning said other selected needles to receive said elastic thread during the knitting of an adjacent course of said fabric, operating said other selected needles to incorporate said elastic thread in an adjacent portion of .said adjacent course, and repeating the selection of needles in successive portions of said circumference during the. knitting of successive courses to incorporate said elastic thread progressively in successive portions of successive courses around the circumference of the fabric.

'2. A method of incorporating an elastic thread in portions of successive courses of a, circular knit fabric as saidfabric is being knitted on a knitting machine having a circular series of needles, which comprises selecting needles in a portion of the circumference of said machine, feeding said elastic thread to said selected needles, floating said elastic thread across the needle circle of said machine, selecting needles in another portion of said circumference, feeding said elastic thread to said selected needles in said other portion of said circumference, and repeating the floating of said elastic thread across said needle circle, selecting needles in another portion of said circumference and feeding said elastic thread to said selected needles in said other portions, to incorporate said elastic thread progressively in successive portions of successive courses around the circumference of the fabric.

3. A method of incorporating an elastic thread in portions of successive courses of a circular knit fabric, as said fabric is being knitted in a knitting machine having a circular series of needles, which comprises selecting needles in a portion of the circumference of said machine, feeding an elastic thread to said needles below the latches thereof, floating said elastic thread across the needle circle of said machine, selecting needles in another portion of said circumference, feeding said elastic thread to said selected needles in said other portion below the latches thereof, and repeating said floating of said elastic thread, selecting needles in additional portions of said circumference, and feeding said elastic thread to said selected needles in said additional portions below the latches thereof, to incorporate said elastic thread progressively in successive portions of successive courses around the circumference of the fabric.

4. A method of incorporating an elastic thread in a circular knit fabric as said fabric is being knitted on a knitting machine having a circular series of needles, which comprises selecting needles in a portion of said circumference, feeding said elastic thread in front of said selected needles and behind intervening needles in said portion of said circumference, floating said elastic thread across the needle circle of said machine, selecting needles in an additional portion of said circumference, feeding said elastic thread in front of said selected needles and behind intervening needles in said additional portion of said circumference and repeating said process of lected needles in said consecutive tion of said circumference, and repeating said alternate feeding and floating of said elastic thread.

6. A method of incorporating an elastic thread in a circular knit fabric as said fabric is being knitted on a knitting machine having a circular series of needles, which comprises selecting needles in a portion of the circumference of said machine, feeding said elastic thread to said selected needles during the knitting of one course of said fabric, floating said elastic thread across the needle circle of said machine, selecting needles in a consecutive portion of said circumference, feeding said elastic thread to said seportions of said circumference during the knitting of a 0011-: secutive course of said fabric, and repeating the floating of said elastic thread across said needle circle, the selecting of needles in consecutive portions of said circumference and the feeding of said elastic thread to said selected needles in said consecutive portions of said circumference during the knitting of other consecutive courses of said fabric, to incorporate said elastic thread in successive portions of consecutive courses around the circumference of the fabric.

'7. A method of incorporating an elastic thread in a circular knit fabric as said fabric is being knit on a knitting machine having a circular series of needles, which comprises feeding said elastic thread at a thread feed located at a fixed position relative to feeding means for feeding body thread to the needles, selecting needles in a portion of the circumference of said machine, manipulating said selected needles to receive said elastic thread and incorporate it in said fabric during the knitting of a portion of a course of fabric, floating said elastic thread across the needle circle of said machine during the knitting of approximately a course of fabric, selecting needles in a successive portion of the circumference of the machine, manipulating said selected needles to receive said elastic thread and incorporate it in said fabric during the knitting floating said elastic thread across said needle circle, selecting needles in other portions of said circumference and feeding said elastic thread to said selected needles and behind intervening needles in said other portions, to incorporate said elastic thread progressively in successive portions of successive courses around the circumference of the fabric.

5. A method of incorporating an elastic thread in a circular knit fabric as said fabric is being knitted on a knitting machine having a circular series of needles, whichv comprises selecting needles in a portion of the circumference of said machine, feeding said elastic thread to certain of said selected needles below the latches thereof. and to other of said selected needles above the latches thereof, floating said elastic thread across the needle circle during a full revolution of said machine, selecting needles in another portion of said circumference, feeding said elastic thread to said'selected needles in said other porof a portion of .a course of fabric, floating said elastic thread across said needle circle during the knitting of approximately a course of fabric, and repeating the selection of needles in successive portions of the circumference of the machine, and the alternate incorporating and floating of said elastic thread to incorporate said elastic thread in successive portions of successive courses around the circumference of the fabric.

8. A method of incorporating an elastic thread in'a circular knit fabric as said fabric is being knit on a circular knitting machine, which comprises feeding said elastic thread at a thread feed located at a fixed position relative to feeding means for feeding body thread, maintaining said elastic thread feed continuously in feeding position during the knitting of a plurality of successive courses, and successively manipulating selected groups of needles disposed respectively in successive portions of the circumference of the machine to incorporate a continuous elastic thread in successive portions of successive courses around the circumference of the fabric.

JAMES L. GETAZ. 

